Charles De Ketelaere is currently living up to the hype that initially followed him to AC Milan from Belgium. However, the Rossoneri are not the ones profiting.
The story of De Ketelaere is a difficult one to assess. In many ways, the Rossoneri acted how you have to in elite-level football, whilst in other ways, the club made mistakes. Either way the situation is viewed, it is part and parcel of football.
Following a disappointing spell at San Siro, the Belgian moved to Atalanta initially on loan before the move was made permanent in the summer. Now, he is flying, and the attacker has been a key cog in La Dea’s title charge.
Today, Luca Percassi, the CEO of Atalanta, spoke to Corriere della Sera (via Calciomercato.com) about the decision to bring the Belgian to the club, more specifically about the way that the club finalised the decision to bring in the player.
“The principles are those of Zingonia: respect and dedication to work. This applies first and foremost to the boys, even if the dynamics are increasingly complex: they are besieged by agents from an early age. I’ll give you a positive example: Charles De Ketelaere.
“He had a perfect impact right from day one. He arrived at dawn and until 5 pm he had a myriad of agents and consultants around him: we counted 13, something never seen before.
“He was quiet and listened. Until we said to him: “Charles, do you trust us?”. “Yes”. “Then sign or we’ll never get to the end”. And he signed. There, we need guys like that.”
Way better than Chuk and RLC. He is even better than Morata and Abraham as CF. Maldini was right about CDK.
“Way better than Chuk and RLC.” Not for us he wasn’t though was he… And Maldini was the one who wanted RLC in the first place.
Management decided to keep RLC over the ones that were shipped out.
Well if you keep a diamond in your pocket it obviously wont shine. Same with CDK, if they actually gave him the playing time that someone like RLC was given we would have had the diamond that Atalanta has now.
Poli preferred Diaz who is a real Madrid player. That shot Milan in the leg
Maldini was right about most things….including CDK.
The Redbird Lovers are sad idiot donkeys
The difference is Atalanta is the best run club in our country, even better run than Juventus who has Stellantis money. But saying that if you build cars as bad as they have you can see it on the pitch.
Sell pavlovic to atalanta 😏
Milan fans rejected him long before the club did. Ppl can blame management or the whoever all they want but this one is solely on the fans. The fans created an atmosphere where this young man couldn’t grow. Many of you on here crying over CDK were the same ones who wanted him sold after six months. You all discredit yourselves
Very correct bro
Agreed, but hear me out. Milan is a mammoth and we as fans only behave as expected for a fanbase of Ac Milan. Signings young or old are always thrust into the deep end esp when purchased for 40m. Sink, swim or tread enough to warrant a second look are the only options. Unfortunately, he sank. The fanbase was coming off a League win so expectations were sky high, plus the fact that Pioli had no clue whether to play him at the 11, 10 or 9 always as a backup or cameo didn’t help. Finally, his fate was sealed when he became one of the reasons Maldini and Massara were let go for being a 40M ‘Flop’. Moncada scouted him but Maldini/Massara had the last word in signing him and Pioli was responsible for his development or lack thereof. Ironically, it earned Moncada a promotion and cost the rest their jobs. Harsh but fair somehow. Hindsight is 20-20 but, if he came good would we have signed Pulisic or Chuk (defo not both) If former, a hypothetical master stroke / if latter, unimaginable. Point is, the variables considered in hindsight are quite subjective so it’s best to wish him the best and hope he only has a shite game vs us.
Agreed, but hear me out. Milan is a mammoth and we as fans only behave as expected for a fanbase of Ac Milan. Signings young or old are always thrust into the deep end esp when purchased for 40m. Sink, swim or tread enough to warrant a second look are the only options. Unfortunately, he sank. The fanbase was coming off a League win so expectations were sky high, plus the fact that Pioli had no clue whether to play him at the 11, 10 or 9 always as a backup or cameo didn’t help. Finally, his fate was sealed when he became one of the reasons Maldini and Massara were let go for being a 40M ‘Flop’. Moncada scouted him but Maldini/Massara had the last word in signing him and Pioli was responsible for his development or lack thereof. Ironically, it earned Moncada a promotion and cost the rest their jobs. Harsh but fair somehow. Hindsight is 20-20 but, if he came good would we have signed Pulisic or Chuk (defo not both) If former, a hypothetical master stroke / if latter, unimaginable. Point is, the variables considered in hindsight are quite subjective so it’s best to wish him the best and hope he only has a bad game vs us
Example, young players Milan not trusting, Christante, Darmian, Pobega, Adli, CDK, Locatelli, Brescianini (also in Atalanta)
And lot of miss treathening for all the young players
Kerkez, Raul Belanova you just name it…